certified copy vs original for DS-230, I am really confused

[sam2011usa 1]

Hi,

I am really confused about the process of DS-230. I am trying to gather all documents needed for DS-230 and I have following 2 questions:

#1. I am trying to understand the term "certified copy" of Birth and Marriage certificates. what is means by that?

do I need to go birth certificate issuing agency and give them a copy of birth certificate and ask them to certify it? how do they

certify it? do they put a official stamp on it? or they issue a separate supporting letter for birth certificate? Please clarify.

because sometime even that issuing agency doesn't know how to certify it.

#2. How many of you are sending original Birth and Marriage certificates instead of certified copies? is it safe? are you getting them back during interview?

Thanks a lot for your help.

[TimeTravel 78]

Hi,

I am really confused about the process of DS-230. I am trying to gather all documents needed for DS-230 and I have following 2 questions:

#1. I am trying to understand the term "certified copy" of Birth and Marriage certificates. what is means by that?

do I need to go birth certificate issuing agency and give them a copy of birth certificate and ask them to certify it? how do they

certify it? do they put a official stamp on it? or they issue a separate supporting letter for birth certificate? Please clarify.

because sometime even that issuing agency doesn't know how to certify it.

#2. How many of you are sending original Birth and Marriage certificates instead of certified copies? is it safe? are you getting them back during interview?

Thanks a lot for your help.

#1 - Sometimes even that issuing agency doesnt know how to give certify copy, and they wont issue at that point. They will say that they can issue more duplicate copies of your certificate rather than certified. I had similar experience in Chennai marriage registrar office, even I explained about how this certified copies work, but they didnt care. So bottom line was that get duplicate copies as it was easier to deal with them.

#2 - It is completely safe to send original documents to NVC. In fact, it is high recommended to send original docs only, as sometimes NVC doesnt like certified copies, and may give the RFE for this.

For BirthCertificate/Marriage License/PCC - You can easily get multiple duplicates copy easily.

[sam2011usa 1]

#1 - Sometimes even that issuing agency doesnt know how to give certify copy, and they wont issue at that point. They will say that they can issue more duplicate copies of your certificate rather than certified. I had similar experience in Chennai marriage registrar office, even I explained about how this certified copies work, but they didnt care. So bottom line was that get duplicate copies as it was easier to deal with them.

#2 - It is completely safe to send original documents to NVC. In fact, it is high recommended to send original docs only, as sometimes NVC doesnt like certified copies, and may give the RFE for this.

For BirthCertificate/Marriage License/PCC - You can easily get multiple duplicates copy easily.

Hi thanks for giving me this info.

I have related question:

For DS-230 form, if I am sending all original documents for beneficiary’s birth certificate, marriage certificate, and police certificate then do I also need to send certified copy of the above documents?

I read somewhere that I also need to send copies of above documents. Please clarify.

Thanks for your help.

[Steven and Ashish 0]

Hi thanks for giving me this info.

I have related question:

For DS-230 form, if I am sending all original documents for beneficiary's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and police certificate then do I also need to send certified copy of the above documents?

I read somewhere that I also need to send copies of above documents. Please clarify.

Thanks for your help.

When you send the DS-230 in, send an extra copy of the above documents. These do not need to be certified since you are already sending the originals. This is what I did. I believe this extra copy packet would be for their records as they will return the originals to the beneficiary at the time of the interview.

At my wife's interview, I will also have her keep an extra copy of everything just in case they ask for another set of the packet(s).

[Nature11 0]

I am planning to get certified copy of my birth certificate from Chennai Corporation. Can anyone tell me how to get the certified copy from Chennai. Thanks.

#1 - Sometimes even that issuing agency doesnt know how to give certify copy, and they wont issue at that point. They will say that they can issue more duplicate copies of your certificate rather than certified. I had similar experience in Chennai marriage registrar office, even I explained about how this certified copies work, but they didnt care. So bottom line was that get duplicate copies as it was easier to deal with them.

#2 - It is completely safe to send original documents to NVC. In fact, it is high recommended to send original docs only, as sometimes NVC doesnt like certified copies, and may give the RFE for this.

For BirthCertificate/Marriage License/PCC - You can easily get multiple duplicates copy easily.

[kb9 6]

I am planning to get certified copy of my birth certificate from Chennai Corporation. Can anyone tell me how to get the certified copy from Chennai. Thanks.

Hi guys. I'm in the same boat. I'm the beneficiary applying for CR-1 visa and I'm about to mail my civil documents to NVC. I was born in Chennai, hence, I only have the computer generated birth certificate which claims to not require a signature and seal. I believe this has led to RFE's from NVC so how should I tackle this?